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I am back and its now exactly 2 weeks until I go home for christmas!
Last time I wrote it was Thanksgiving and I had been having a pretty chilled week. But now that has all changed and its time for Finals.
Since Thanksgiving I have been so busy with school work and christmas shopping! But I did squeeze in some time to mess around and do some zombie makeup!
Aka I was really bored!
The week back to classess after thanksgiving, I had a Statistics exam and a Chemistry Exam. I have now received 1 final grade back and I am guessing 2 others. So far I am on 2A's and 1B.
Then it was Maria's Birthday and so I went to celebrate that although I had an exam the next day so I couldnt stay long.
Me and Bonnie put up xmas lights in our apartment and played xmas music to make us feel more festive! I was awesome!
We also looked after Nala for a couple of days! She is so cute and I love to play with her...although the night before an exam is not the best time to play with a cat!
Me, Bonnie and Maddie all went out to see Breaking Dawn Part 2. Bonnie hadnt seen it yet so we decided to make our 2nd trip! And yes it was just as good! The we went out to The Max which is a bar which is pretty chilled and where we had a go at a few arcade games! Some were totally vintage it was awesome!
It was time for the Football conference championship game vs UCF! Tulsa hasnt won Football conference since 2005! I Seriously had never been so excited in my life! I stayed the whole game with Bonnie! Final score was 33-27 to Tulsa!
Most amazing game ever athough very frustrating at times!
Me and Bonnie in the Suites at the game!
TU vs UCF Highlights
My video of the final touchdown!!! I get to be on the field!
That evening, me and Isaura went to watch the Tulsa Symphony at the Tulsa Performing Arts Centre (PAC). It was absolutely incredible
I couldnt find a video of the one in Tulsa but this one is very similar!
It was the first time I had seen the film and it was amazing to see it with live music. My flute professor is the Principle flute player of the Tulsa Symphony and so it was incredible to hear him play.
Me and Isaura then went to the Centre of The Universe right outside the PAC.
It makes echos every time you talk its so wierd!
Right now the tennis team are not practicing officially and exams are taking up most of our time!
I have three more exams this week! I am hoping they are going to go well!
Not long til xmas now! Just 3 weeks and 2 weeks til home :-)
As regionals drew closer, we also hosted the Mens All American and a Junior ITF, which meant the regular tradition of early morning practice! 6ams Oh the joys!
I helped out at the football games for the Marketing team which was pretty cool. I was able to get my own access pass while my job was to hand out free things to people coming through the gates and award prizes! TU Football have been doing really well this year!
The Marketing team play a game where they guess the total score and the closest person wins. Me and Bonny have drawn twice! I think we are just naturally talented at guessing haha!
Regionals had finally arrived and it was time for qualifying! We had three of our freshies qualifying this year; Carol, Renata and Belen. Unfortunately only Carol qualified making it so that we had 6 of our team in the main draw! Ready to dominate!
It was a great start to the week as all 6 of us won our first round matches. Making it to the round of 16 in singles was me and Isaura and we only made 2 pairs of doubles through to Round 16 on day 1.
Bonny, Me, Michelle and Isaura behind the outside courts watching Saana and Maria in their 2nd round matches.
It was a really good week for me and Isaura as we won the Central Regional Doubles Title!
and I was the runner up in the singles!
We were so pumped before our match and we dedicated our win to the song Slide by the Goo Goo Dolls as we were listening to it at breakfast before we went on court!
It couldnt have been a better week! We renamed the day Flag Day which is of course 22nd October 2012!
We waited for the flag for a couple of weeks and it finally arrived!
By winning this title we were entered into Nationals held in Flushing Meadows, New York!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK!
We were so excited for weeks!
But before we were off to New York, we had Halloween to celebrate! This year was pretty awesome!
Me and Bonnie dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White!
We also decided to celebrate halloween twice! To give our freshman and coaches a little surprise to show what we are all about! We are the best team ever!
Carefully planned...we turned up to practice like this!
Loving it, the coaches took some pics! I think I should have this one on my wall!
After Halloween, we had a new recruit come to Tulsa. It was a girl called Laura from England. It was so nice to hear another British accent just to make sure I hadnt gone completely insane! We went to P.F.Changs and it was absolutely incredible!
It was time for enrollment all over again! Already sorting things out for the Spring semester when we havent even finished this one! It is crazy!
It was time for the rest of the girls to leave for Memphis! So it was just me and Isaura on our own! This meant that we had 4 to 5 days of practice all to ourself and incredibily it went pretty good! This was our bonding time!
We decided to show the coaches how hard we have been working and to also make them laugh! With our joke picture!
It got to the point where we started having catchphrases and quotes! This one we loved!
Our new quotes were "Massive", "Epic", "Domination" etc We were quite the team!
Also we also had the same style lol! Not my fault! We just randomly decided to wear the same outfit!
Nationals were here and we were off at 5.30am!
Determined to win! We went to the banquet the first evening! I'm waiting to find a picture of it but I cant yet.
We got a bye our first round as we decided that they knew we were the best haha!
Our first match up was against USC! We won 8-4! And even then we could have played so much better!
We went to Times Square for dinner that evening! It was so much fun and we went to the most amazing italian!
Unfortunately then next day we lost 8-6 to Virginia! We were so gutted and disappointed as we were robbed from a match that could have been ours! The Virginia team was good though and made it to the finals!
After a great semester of tennis, me and Isaura cant wait to see what our doubles ranking will be!
As Isaura says, she is not leaving until the team is number 1! hahaha! Sweet 16 first hey girls!
While we were in New York, we watched Megamind which was an absolutely hilarious film!
"Oooh, I'm shaking in my custom baby seal leather boots!"- Megamind
I have wanted to see this film for ages but never did! It is a must see!
As we had so much time together I think we went a little wacky.
We also got crazt about Beavis and Butthead, especially the episode "I am the Great Cornholio"
Seriously, you have to put yourself in a funny mindset and this can be absolutely hilarious for no reason at all!
Since New York, there has not been much going on apart from classes and practice. Although wanting a puppy and obsessing over vanilla greek yoghurt have been the most fulfilling parts of my day!
We went to go watch Breaking Dawn Part 2 and I absolutely loved it! As usual!
Although at the end I was going to snap but then realised it was a twist! If they had seriously done that to the characters that would have been awful! I like it when they stick pretty close to the books and they did that apart from that, which actually made it 10x better!
A great ending to a great series!
It is now 4 weeks to go until I go home for christmas! I am now on thankgiving break and it is thanksgiving day today! This week has pretty much consisted of getting back on track with Gossip Girl and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
I have also been extra good and tidied the whole apartment!
Its been an amazing semester so far and now all that is left is finals before christmas! So heres hoping for some good grades and a white christmas!
I leave you with this song which is amazing and should be listened to repeatedly :-)
Wow...how long has it been! It feels like a decade since I last wrote and so many things have happened!
Its now nearing the end of November which means its Thanksgiving break, giving me plenty of time off to write this blog! Unlike last Fall, this fall has gone exceptionally fast! Its been an epic semester!
Starting from the end of summer; when I turned 21, and returning from mine and my best friends birthday holiday in Rhodes, Greece. Then having a great weekend at County Cup.
I left my last blog at 3 weeks before returning to Tulsa for the Fall semester, so you can tell how busy it has been for me the past 4 months.
I finished off the summer with a trip to Clumber park with my Dad. We hadn't spent much time together and so we thought it might be great to go on our bikes and have a day out!
On my return back to the US, I met up with my teammate Michelle, and we luckily sat next to each other on both flights, which was lifesaving and so much fun! Even though we got delayed and missed out connection, the in flight movies saved us! We watched The Lucky One, and A Thousand Words.
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As per tradition, well for now, I arrive the day before, just in time for classes the next day! But before that, I met our four new tennis freshman; Renata (Slovakia), Saana (Finland), Carol (India/Spain) and Belen (Argentina). It seems like we are always going to have an international team, gotta love it!
From Left: Me, and freshies; Belen, Renata, Carol and Saana.
This semester brought new news!! I now had a new roommate, called Bonnie! Who is awesome and I couldn't wait to get to know her!
So, back to work and classes begin. This semester I started taking 16 hours; Biology, Chemistry and Lab, Economics, Anthropology, Statistics and Flute. Back to class also means back on the court for a great semester of tennis!
Fall semester in tennis is our off-season, but this doesn't mean we have any less than usual. It is time for individual tournaments to improve your ranking etc. This semester we were played in Missouri, Arkansas, Tulsa, New York and Memphis.
As its the fall season, we go back over to the main gym to do weights and running with the fitness coaches instead of the tennis coaches! And this became the new era of Army Style!! Not joking!
If you can imagine the craziest army workouts and whistle blowing/hang clapping then you are thinking right! Although it was fun and something different for a change, it was mega hard considering the summer weather!
But our first break came soon enough and it was already Labor Day weekend (English people please write Labour). One of the worst parts of the Fall semester is that you don't get a Fall break and that Labour day weekend is 1 week after school starts so you don't really need a break! Typical!
After getting though part of the semester, me and Sean decided that we wanted to attempt a marathon! Never having done one or even a half marathon, I was relying on the fact that I used to be able to run cross country. But seeing as I was being pretty optimistic, I decided I would run it as slow as I could! We set up our course that went 10 times round the TU campus.
Amazingly I was able to do a half marathon, and decided that my legs wouldn't take me any more! At least I can say now that I have completed a half marathon!
Definitely should have made myself a medal or something in memory as I may not ever make more than 4 miles again!
At last, it had come! It was September and we all know what happens! Its the month of partying! Well.....! We were all getting ready for Michelle's 21st and Bonny's 22nd birthday which were a week apart and so we were celebrating them on two consecutive weekends!
Michelles Birthday "Lets get Wankered!"
And Bonny's Birthday "Lets get Wankered: Part 2"
We were prepared for them to be messy! Haha!
As planned, we had two MASSIVE parties and celebrated in style!
Our 1st exams were slowly approaching and pretty soon you could see everyone walking to the library at 8pm at night ready for their worst night of studying! Obviously, this is not my style and I get so distracted in the library and so study in my room! So much better :-)
Before we knew it, it was time for our first tournament in Missouri! It was called Aces for the Cure, where you get people to sponsor you for how many aces you hit in all your matches. I think i managed to hit 6, which I was pretty proud of as seen as the wind was about a million miles per hour!
We had also started this new fitness called EVO, which we were now doing even at tournaments! We thought it was crazy!
"Domination station in the right location!"- Sam
It was a good weekend overall for the team as it was nice to get some matches under our belt and see how good we can be this year. I won all 3 singles matches and 3 out of 4 doubles matches. My partner in crime now is Isaura! The best :-)
We went to P.F.Changs and made sure we devoured The Great Wall of China!
I had also got a little bit obsessed with Always by Bon Jovi, which I know is old but I love it. I'm not sure everyone loved it though, so i felt obliged to make sure they started loving it and played it repeatedly until they did..... Unfortunately, that didn't happen!
"I'll be there forever and a day...always!"
It came to me that I had been in Tulsa, for almost two years and I had yet to do anything out of the ordinary or visit places. Isaura and I decided that we desperately wanted to go see a Muse concert as we absolutely love them! They are epic!
Weirdly, the next week came by and BOK announced that Muse would be holding a concert next March and we were like OOOOOMMMMMMGGGGG! Seriously! So literally I had no hesitation in buying that ticket! So March 2013 couldn't come quicker!
I also went to see Pitch Perfect with Bonnie! It was absolutely hilarious and I couldn't stop quoting it for the next two days! Literally my tweets were just full of them! And yes i have been aboard the twittersphere, Svicks91. It is awesome and I think I love it more than facebook!
"I'm gonna finish him like a cheesecake"- Fat Amy
Fat Amy is the best character! Amazing!
Finally we were on a roll and we were headed to our next tournament in Arkansas. Not feeling the best at this tournament, I still did decently well. I won 2 out of 3 singles and 3 out of 3 doubles. Isaura and I were killing it at doubles and we were so excited about playing regionals! The decision was made- we wanted to be top 10!
Our trip was pretty good as we were able to go and watch Taken 2. I hadn't seen Taken yet but I understood it. I was pretty sure I wasn't looking forward to the gruesome parts and there were definitely a few. Worth a watch though, especially if your a Liam Neeson fan!
Seeing as Regionals was approaching it was getting especially important that I don't play as rubbish as I had been! So that meant....Serves! Yes it was that time again!
It had already been such a busy semester and to fit parties in was just too funny! This time we went to Amberleanas party! And you could say this one was the messiest of them all! But it was bonding time for me and Bonnie and so I think it was a pretty successful evening!
I couldnt have been more happy, but the rest of the semester was pretty damn epic!
July...typically the best time of the year! Its the summer so its got amazing weather- for most of the world, Wimbledon, my birthday, and the Olympics which is in London this year! And that of course means an extra busy country!
Before I left Tulsa, I had a week to spend in the sun! It was mostly a week of chill and sorting out everything before I left! I was mostly thinking about making sure my bedroom was clear so that when I arrived back in August I could just fall into my bed!!
I also visited Pryor and did some lawn mowing on one that you sit on. I had never done this before so this was extra interesting. Everyone knows how good of a driver I am...seriously...so I was an expert at this!
We watched some neccessary films including Oliver! As this is a classic and my friend Sean hadn't seen it then I thought it was important to watch it! It was an important decision to give a prize to the best song in the film. I think the contenders were; I'd do anything, Consider yourself, It's a fine life and Who Will Buy. I think my vote went for I'd do Anything. Love it!
Finally I was ready for my flight home...killer! I really dislike sitting in one place for hours at a time unless I'm laid down! It went ok and I managed to watch one film while on the plane which was The Hunger Games. I hadn't seen it before and wanted to as people had compared it to a really good films like the Harry Potter series or Twilight. I thought it was ok but not as good as HP.
I was also getting the train back home from Heathrow so that made my journey longer. However my Dad did picked me up and I went to see my Nana. This time when I got home Poppy knew who I was and gave me a hug and cuddles but possibly just wanted walkies! The first few days I was at home I heard that there had been some huge thunderstorm and tornados. Some towns in Lincolshire had been flooded! Poppy didnt like the thunderstorms and was very frightened!
I went to take Pops on a very long walk to see Rebecca and we ended up walking milesss....!
Being home means that I get to eat foods that I like and its much tastier! We made some lasagne...
and I also some real pancakes...
It was then time for my birthday...I have now finally made it to 21...and am hoping to find some fairy dust so i can pop off to Neverland!
It was a really good birthday and we had a barbeque with me, mum, dad, bex, mark, auntie and poppy!
I got some photos developed that had been on my side for a few years and I wasnt sure what they were. And I found some old photos of our family from when me and my sister were younger and also from before we were born! so cute!
My parents finally saw my tattoo after three days of being home...either they can't see it very well or they are not very attentive as I didnt wear long sleeves.
Had been planning to go on holiday for a while with Hilary for our 21st as we have the same birthday! I had organised a weeks holiday to Rhodes, a Greek Island. Me, mum and auntie went into Lincoln and found some good holiday clothes and so got to shopping! On the way back from shopping we saw Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas walking through the town. I also got my eyebrows done before going on holiday and when I was about to pay for it I realised I lost £10. Was gutting so I had to go and get some more money from the atm!
Next stop was our checklist for Holiday! Holiday money, CHECK, Passport, CHECK, Bikinis, CHECK! Pretty much set! It was a really good holiday and was very sunny! I did very well in getting rid of my tan lines! I have more to write about my holiday later!
I cam back from Rhodes and went straight to County Cup which was held in Poole in East Dorset. We were in Group 6b which is very low but we could be a lot better! It was very sunny down there too and some of the other girls got sunburnt. I was very determined not to get tan lines so I wore tshirts which I never usually do. I also tried to get my short tan line to go abit more as they are going pretty well too!
We won all three days 9-0 against Cumbria, 9-0 against Oxfordshire and 7-2 against Bedfordshire. County Cup is supposed to be played over 5 days on grass but it was played on artificial grass over 3 days. Not a very happy bunny and had lots to say about it to the LTA and now awaiting their email. However we will now be promoted to either Group 5a or 5b, im not sure which but that is good!
We were able to go to the beach which was really nice and treated ourselves to some ice cream! Celebrated on some archers and lemonade which is a nice relaxing drink! And then finally it was the journey home the next morning as Champions. It took about 4 hours which wasnt too bad. It felt much better than our 4 hour flight to Rhodes...which is strange. Maybe cars are more comfortable than planes. I also discovered that Freddos are now 20p...which is an outrage! I remember when Freddos used to be 10p, then they were moved up to 15p, then 17p which was wierd, and now they are 20p!
Oh dear...soon its gonna be 30p and then you are gonna be able to tell how old I am!
I got home from Couny Cup and it was Mum's birthday the day before. She had turned the big one :-) not yet had time to celebrate it and so that is next on the list!
Its only 3 and a half weeks left til I go back to Tulsa...the summer is speeding by very fast!!
Buzzing...that is the word of the week! And if thats not the word for you then get out there an do something crazy!
The last time I wrote on here, I was mid way through my summer school getting ready for final exams! Now that its all over...its amazing to be chilling and having fun! Its been way too hot here though...thinking Wimbledon needs some of our weather!
We finished finals last Friday and I was so happy to be finished. My Genetics class was pretty hard...spent the whole two days memorising as much as I could!
Dont think I could really fit much more in my brain to be honest! I got really bored of trying to memorise other things that I deciced to memorise my nucleotide bases....FUN FUN!
Was pretty annoying through everytime I wanted to study the ice cream jingle came on...and trust me its bad!!
Something more exciting was that for our art final we decided to do a whole class performance art. It was a half flash mob/pool party ish...and it was pretty cool! Not sure we are a class cut out for proper flash mobs yet but we are on the map...and youtube is our platform! Watch this space...haha!
Epic......
Pretty much can say that it was the best class I had so far since being at TU!
Now I've finished the class I have a few last minute pictures to show!
My flowers which are extra special
My freehand Mickey!
Im pretty sure I love drawing the most!
Next on the agenda is that I am leaving for England in 3 days! So excited to be going home...but not looking forward to the flight...might be some uber uncomfortableness and numb bum syndrome!
We went to Worlds of Fun on Monday which was lots of Fun and rode the tallest rollercoaster there- the Mamba! But it was too easy and definately had my hands up! Got up extra early...at 5.30am!
It was so hot there that the best rides were the water rides and I got completely soaked which felt good. Usually you freeze after going on them but not this time!
You can tell from this picture that I have my new t-shirt on. And this is the back...
I love it...its amazing!
Sean got one too but I dont have a picture of that :-(
Watched the Euro 2012 quarterfinal England vs Italy! Major let down again losing on penalties....England seem to be able to do extra well on messing up our penalties! But still proud to be British...and tbh I would rather do better in the World Cup! Being optimistic here!
Last week me and Sean went to work for his Dad...we were picking up wood from the roads and it was boiling. Definately worked on my tan that day but could still do better to get rid of those lines!
Since being free from school and imprisonment from studying in my room...I have been able to get out but when its too hot we've been watching some classic films.
Including Sherlock Holmes- A Game of Shadows, My Fair Lady and Goodnight Mr Tom.
Really loving Robert Downey Jnr and Jude Law...its so funny and I cant wait for the third movie next year!
Since not having watched My Fair Lady before...I was required to watch it before I return to England to help all the English to learn how to speak! As apparently they drop all their h's and do funny vowels...well the cockneys do anyway!
Just got a little bit obsessed with the song Loverly...which is awesome...and I taught Sean this song in 15mins. Although I hadnt seen the film before its now memorised! And plus Sean usually cant remember more than 2 lines of songs so I'm quite impressed!
Also after watching Goodnight Mr Tom...I pretty much couldnt stop sing this song...
"Its a long way to Tipperary, its a long way to go....."
News I was shocked about a couple of weeks ago was that Harry Redknapp is leaving Spurs...bad mistake I say! Cant believe it and should really change their minds!
Since having time off been having a little play on the Sims. Its a bit addictive and you can get playing it for hours on end! My people keep falling in love and having children! I stopped my last lady having children but then I said she could adopt....then she fell in love and so obviously they had to have a child...then by accident she had twins! I swear its impossible to look after 4 children at once!
I was going to start reading my new book...Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay! I love his other books so much I decided to get this one, however I havent started it yet. I now have the Deathly Hallows in America as well as at home in England too...because its an amazing book! Everyone should read them because they are so much better than the movies!
Things coming up are now that Ewa...my ex teammate :-( and ex roommate...has gone...i now will have a new roommate for the Fall. So should be exciting!
There is a new Meryl Streep movie coming out soon! Its out on August 10th so I will be definately watching that...becuase Meryl Streep is my hero!
And it looks super funny!
Steve Carrell is in it too...and there is no film that I dont like that has Steve Carell in it.
Now that I have 3 days left to go until home I have lots of things to do...making sure my room is tidy and no messes...laundry...presents!
Ready for my birthday which is in 11 days! Of course I have my dad's, mum's and sister's birthday aswell but I'm just counting down til im 21. I know im gonna feel older...but hey!
Lets hope this summer is epic and turn another year older...anti aging cream here I come haha!
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